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There’s nothing better than chocolate cake for a birthday party or other festivity. While cooking with chocolate can be tricky depending on what you’re trying to make, chocolate cake is easy even for beginner cooks, and provides a culinary opportunity to be creative. After all, chocolate cakes can be frosted with a number of different icings, and decorated for every occasion. Of course, you can always include add-ons like sprinkles or candles, bringing your chocolate cake to the next level. However, before you dive into learning how to decorate desserts, you’ll have to learn how to bake the cake itself.

Chocolate cake recipe
Here is a simple chocolate cake recipe courtesy of Add A Pinch. If you’re not a fan of chocolate frosting, go for another flavor such as vanilla or Oreo. Frosting is also relatively easy to make at home and can be whipped up while the cake is baking.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon espresso powder

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Chocolate butter cream frosting (made separately)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with baking spray or butter and a little bit of flour.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking power, baking soda, cocoa, salt and espresso powder. Stir until these ingredients are well combined. Add the milk, eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla to the dry mixture. Continue to whisk together until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Add boiling water to the cake batter and beat rigorously for about 1 minute.

Spatula out cake batter from the mixing bowl evenly between the two greased cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, using a toothpick or cake tester to test for doneness. When this implement can be removed cleanly, the cake is done.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove each cake and allow to cool completely on a wire rack or stovetop. Finish the cake by icing with the chocolate butter cream frosting.

Tip: Be patient with the cooling process. If you try to ice the cake too early, it’s more likely to break apart and ruin the overall structural integrity of your cake.